Wire bundling machine



July 19, 1938. H. w. HILL 2,123,895

' WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed B39123, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 1 4 4 mfg .4 1/24;

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July 19,1938. H. w. HILL wmn BUNDLING momma.

Filed May 23, 1931' s sneets sheet 2 H. w. HILL July 19, was

WIRE 'BUNDL-ING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheef 5 Filed May 23, 1931 Patented my 19, less UNITED STATES R 2,123,895 wine ammo mom Barry W. mu, Sterling, m, jassig nor to Northw Barb Wire Company. a corporation of Illino Application May 23, 1931, sin-mm. 539,623 3 Claims. (01. 100-31)- This invention'hasto do with an apparatus 1 for wrapping a bundle of lengths-of wire to ether,

for shipping.

In the past, it has been common to arrange r, a plurality of lengths ofwire together, in the form of a bundle and to apply entirely by hand anchor rings of wire at spaced points along the length of thebundle, bringing the ends of each ring together and twisting the same and then bending the partsthus twisted flat against the bundle. In this manner the wires were kept together and separation was prevented during shipping and handling 01 the bundle as a whole. This process of fastening the bundle is cumber: some and takes up a considerable amount of time. Moreover the resultant article is' very rough, due to the protruding ends of the anchor rings, often causing scratches and lacerations of the hands, ripping of clothing, and catching in and mutilating' wires of adjacent bundles.

It is accordingly one of the principal objects of this invention to provide an apparatus with which an attendant or operator may cooperate to wind a wire or the like about a bundle of wire or the 3 like in spiral fashion lengthwise of the bundle to thereby facilitate-the wrapping of the bundle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapping for a bundle of wire or the like, the wrapping being of such construction as to provide 0 continuous en agement with the bundleof wire substantially throughout the length of the bundle.

- A further object consists in a method of expeditiously wrapping a bundle in secure fashion.

I Another object resides in the provision of a bundle which presents substantially no sharp projections, thereby making for ease and safety in handling, and eliminating injury to adjacent bundles or other articles. a

In carrying out the invention, I provide a head stock having achuck to grasp and ungrasp one end of a bundle of lengths of wire or the like,

and to rotate the bundle. A suitable control for the head stock spindle is available to the operator at all times wherever he may be along the appar tus- 'The head stock andremaining instrumentalities constituting my apparatus are mounted on a simple. frame (Sf-substantially the width of the head so that the device as a whole occupies very little area. The other instrumentalities or the apparatus consist of means for supporting a bundle of wire prior to its being wrapped by the special means herein provided, the support incorporating also a guide or chute by which the ,55 bundle may be conducted to a trough mounted for pivotal movement on the frame, so that, once" the wrapping of a bundle of wire has been Icom- 1' pleted, the trough-dike structure may be shifted as a whole about its axis parallel thereto to thereby dump. the wrapped bundle, whereupon the 5' trough is returned to its original position to receive another bundle to be wrapped. Thetrough is also adjustable vertically so that the bundle may be substantially aligned with the rotating spindle of the head stock, regardless of the diamm eter of the bundle. The chuck, is of such char acter that it is he e and lends itself to diflerences in alinementbetween itself and the bundle to be rippe t byv The bundle is wrapped as follows: The bundle 15 to be wrapped is preliminarily prepared for the wrapping operation and is then conducted to the trough by the guide provided for this purpose.

It is then shifted longitudinally and one end, to

which I shall refer herein'as-the head, is tightly 2Q engaged by the chuck. One end ofa wire carried by a spool or the like and conveniently 10- cated with respect to the attendant is hooked and secured to the bundle adjacent its head and then .power is applied to rotate the chuck and the bundle; The operator or attendant holds the portion of the wire from the spool adjacent the rotating bundle, and moves lengthwise of the; bundle as the latter rotates, permitting the wire to slip from his fingers and be wrapped spirally g about the bundle. When the attendantis ad- Jacent theppposite or tail end of the bundle, he 1 stops and permits the wire to be drawn from his ilngers and wrapped into the form of contacting l cells. This is continued for onefor more revoiu- 35 tions after the extremity has been reached, the wire as it leaves the attendant being urged byhim gradually towardthe axis ofthe bundle,

whereupon the power is cut off. At thispoint thev wire is severed adjacent the tail end, so that the 4 latter portion of the bundle-wrapping wire con- 'stitutes ineifect a metal cap, the outer portion of which-is frusto-conical, and which forms a protective covering for the ends of, the wires and,

for the burlap or like cover to be placed thereover. The burlap cap or cover'to be placed at the head ofthe bundle, which in the case of wrapping wire. usually is rounded, due to the eye i formation of the heads of such .wire,-wil1be free of. any'tearing tendency. 50

Considering the fact that the bundles'heretofore wrapped were surrounded by a plurality or individually fastened ties or anchors having wrapped projecting portions, it'will be understood. that such construction involves the disadvantage not only of time consumed inwrapping, but additionally of the catching of the portions .thus protruding with the wires of adjacent bundles, thereby mutilating and often pulling parts of. the wires thus projecting from their respective bundles. With the invention just outlined, however, it is clear that there are no such objectionable projecting portions, and the act or operation of wrapping the bundle involves a matter of a few moments. Moreover the bundle thus produced is much heater in appearance than those heretofore made, and is more compact, thereby providing a decided saving in shipping expense. The lack of protruding parts moreover makes for much easier and safer handling, whereas the handling of bundles of this character heretofore wrapped always involved the danger of scratching or otherwise mutilating the hands.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a broken-away front elevation of the apparatus constituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1, and includes a completely wrapped bundle.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately in the plane indicated by the line IIIIII in Figure Lcertain parts being omitted,

' and a bundle being shown in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximately in the plane indicated by the line IV-IV in Figure 1, certain'parts being shown in elevation. v 1 Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken approximately in the plane indicated by the line VV in Figure 1, certain parts beingomitted.

Figure 6 is an elevational view, partly broken away, showing an unwrapped bundle of baling wire, with the cap at the head .of the bundle partly withdrawn to show how the wires at that end are preliminarily secured together.

Figure '7 is a view similar to'Figure 6, ;but showing the bundle after the final wrapping operation has been completed with my novelapparatus, and I Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the tail end of the bundle after the bundle is completely wrapped.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein the same part is indicated in each case by the same reference character, the frame on which the apparatus constituting the essence of'the present invention is supported consists essentially of a substantially horizontal angle iron i, and vertical angle members 2.; rivetedthe apparatus. v i

The flange 3 of the an le, iron I .directly sup-- ports the apparatus, and has mounted thereon. adjacent one end spaced 'brackets 4 providing bearings 5 for a spindle 6. A fixed pulley l and a loosely 'mounted pulley 8 are disposed about the spindle 6 intermediate the bearings 5. A plurality of standards 9 slidablycarry a belt control or shifting member I'll extending'substantially throughout the length'of the frame. Spaced belt guide means H is carried by the thereto. This constitutesthe sole framework of shifter member ID, and with the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 the apparatus is .idle since'the belt (not shown) ,would be in engage ment withthe'loose pulley 8. By shifting the control member III to the left as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, the guide means II will serve to move the belt to the left into engagement with the fixed pulley 1, to thereby rotate the spindle 6.

Fixed on the inner end of the spindle 6 is a sleeve I2, and loosely surrounding the same is a sleeve I 4 to which is pivoted at l3 an actuating lever [5. The lever I5 is pivoted to the frame base 3 at IS. A substantially H-shaped spacing member I! is secured for rotation with the sleeve l2 and receives at its opposite ends pivoted levers l8, each lever i8 having a tapered end i9 adapted to be moved by a cam action by the frustoconical surface 20 of the sleeve I. The levers 18 have at their inner ends chuck jaws 2| It is thus apparent that upon movement of the lever l5 to the right as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, the ends IQ of the leverslB will be cammed outward and the jaws 2| will be cammed inward to thereby grip the head of the bundle to be rotated thereby. A spring 22 constantly urges the ends IQ of the levers i8 toward each other.

Also supported longitudinally on the flange 3 of the angle member I of the. frame is a substantially vshaped trough 23 carried by brackets 24 pivotally mounted at 25 in alinement. Each bracket 24 is further carried on a vertically adjustable mounting 26, so that the trough 23 may- ,be adjusted for different diameters of bundles,

whereby the latter may be substantially alined axially with the-chuck. Additional supporting means for the bundles to be wrapped is provided in order that the operator may preliminarlly bind the ends of the bundle to prepare the latter for the wrapping operation employingthe apparatus. This means consists of a standard 21 secured to the flange 3 and projecting toward the attendant, that is, from. the front side of the machine. Springs 43 constantly .urge the brackets 24 toward the right as seen in Figure 3, and stops 46 on the mountings 26 limit movement in that direction. A lever 44 is suitably mounted for rotation with one of the brackets 24 and may be employed to pivot the trough 23 against the action of the springs 43 when the wrapped bundle is discarded to make way for a bundle to be wrapped.

The upper end 28 of the standard 21 is in the form substantially of the letter U and is adapted to receive the head ofthe bundle to be wrapped. Additional standards 28 are also secured to the frame insubstantial alinement with the standv bundle may be conducted to the trough 23. The

guide is sufficiently flat at its upper portion 3| to hold the tail end and intermediate portion of the bundle against rolling down the guide when the head of the bundle. is in r the vportion 2.. when the attendant is ready to place the bundle in the trough 23, he merely raises the head end sa'ry, gives-it a slight push toward'the trough 23,

36 out of the U-shaped portions 22 and, if neoes- In describing thepresent invention, the bundle V 32 chosen to illustrate the operation ofmy up paratus is merely exemplary, since a bundle of any sort of wire or other materlali mayv .wrappedby an apparatus made in accordancewith the principles of this i'nventiom The wire constituting the bundle herein disclosed is of the character, employed in tieing bales of waste 15 chor 35 ,3 9,188,895 paper and the like, and comprises an end portion which is bent upon itself to forman eye, 33, the contacting portions being thereupon twisted about each other to resist separation. The eye thus constitutes a ,loop through which the other end Of the wire may be passed during the process of tieing the bale;

' Before applying power to the apparatus, the attendant first assembles a plurality of lengths of wire; and arranges their ends in substantial alinemeans-of an anchor 34 at adjacent ends thereof.

The wires are thus secured in their-initial stage of wrapping and will now be considered as a bundle. A cover or cap 310! burlap or the like is then applied to the head 36 so as to completely envelopthe latter in the-manner indicated in Figure 6. The attendant then places one end 38 of a spool of bundle-wrapping wire 39 against the bundle and longitudinally thereof adjacent the.

' head of the bundle 32, and tightly binds an anabout the same and' the bundle whereupon the end 38. of the wire 39 is bent about the loop and twisted about the wire 39 as shown'in Figur'e 'l. Another anchor 40 (Figure 7) is tied about the cover 31 to hold the same in place, and

s only the .cover 31 but the portion of the wire 39.

around the same are securely held on the head of k the bundle 32. V

The attendant then raises the head of the bundle out of the U-.-shaped portion 28 and the 40 bundle 32 is conducted by gravity from the guide 33 to the trough 23 to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The bundle 32. is then shifted to the left until the cover 3'I-is in position to be-'engaged by the chuck jaws 2!,

(I whereupon the chuck control lever I5 is moved to the rightas seen in Figures 1. and ,2, thereby.

causing the Jaws to tightly grip the cover 31, and the enclosed head of the bundle. The power control member II is thereupon shifted to the left to n cause the belt between the guides II' to engage the rized pulley 1, thereby causing rotation of the spindle 3, and, of course, the bundle 32.

As soon as the b dle32 starts rotating, the attendant, with the wire 33 in-his hand, moves 5 toward the right as viewed inFigures land 2, permitting the wire to slip through his fingers under tension. It isobvious that the wire is thus caused to be wrapped spirally lengthwise of the bundle 32 with the desired degree of tension. .0 'When the wire thus being wrapped is within a short distance of the tail end of the bundle, the operator stops walking and causes the wire to be 30 then the wire 33 is applied longitudinally about wound in contacting coils until the .very extremity of the tail end is reached, the wire being then urged by the attendant toward the axis of the bundle during a few rotations of the latter. The control member I3 is then shifted to the right as seen in Figures 1 and'2, to stop the'spindle 6, whereupon the wire is severed at the coiled portion. The cofls thus constitute collectivelya cap which serves as a protection against injury of and by the sharp ends of the wires of the bundle. A burlap or similar cover H is applied over the ,tail end and cap 45 of the bundle very much in 1 the manner employed in the application ofthe of a resilient nature.

cover 31 at the head end of the bundle, and is 4 secured'in position in a similar manner, namely, by means of the anchors 42. The bundle is now completely wrapped and is thereupon removed or dumped from the trough 23 against the action of the springs 43, upon movement of the lever M to substantially the position shown in dotted lines at A in Figure 3. The trough is returned by the spring 43 to its full line position in preparatio for another bundle to be wrapped.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention takes up a very small amount of space, is subjected to.light' stresses during operation, is of extremely simple construction, employing a minimum of parts which may be easily stamped -or cast without expensive machining operations, since the chuck need not be perfectly centered in order. to perform its operation in the desired manner and with the desired efficiency.

The operation itself is obviously extremely simple, and yet the desired -wrappiiig is performed effectively and neatly, and produces a'bundle which is wrapped compactly and with practically no projecting portions, thereby substantially ob-' viating the possibility of n'iutilating adjacent bundles and the hands and clothing of persons handling'the same. The cap 45 formed at the tall end by the wrapping wire serves not only to protect the cover 4| against tearing by the sharp ends 'of the bundle wires,'but also serves to prevent injury to the hand of the attendant during the application of such .cover. In addition, the wire cap 45 serves to protect the endso'f the wires themselves against such injury as might otherwise occur by engagement by said'ends with a hard substance. I

It is, of course, appreciated that mechanical means could be provided to cooperate with the apparatus to feed the wrapping wire'longitudinally as the bundle is rotated, but this operation on the part of theattendantis so simple, as is also the forming of the cap ll, that the provision of such means would present no appreciable advantage, andwould entail an added cost. with the construction hereinpresented, the stresses are almost entirely torsionaldue to the bundles being gripped for rotation at only one end, and

are accordingly so slight that repairs are practically negligible.

'1 am aware that many changes may be made,

and numerous details of construction maybe varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior platform and adapted for gripping an end of said bundle, a V-shaped trough tiltably mounted upon said-platform in advance of said chuck, a handle connected to said trough and extending to one side thereof, an angular bracket secured to said platform and extending to the same side of said platform'as said handle, said bracket having a bundle rest at its upper end, and other angular brackets attached to said platform and having a rotary chuck mounted adjacent one end of said 1 arm having a horizontal portion to support a sloping, portions extending from substantially the elevation of said bundle rest to said trough, whereby an attendant may tilt said trough by said handle for discharging a bundle and then elevate an unwrapped bundle from said rest for travelling down said guide portions to said trough from a single position.

2. An apparatus for wrapping a bundle of elongated wire elements, comprising an elongated base, a rotary chuck mounted on said base to grip an end of said bundle, an elongated trough mounted on said base and having upwardly directed and laterally spaced opposed sides, said trough being arranged to support said bundle while it is being rotated by said chuck, a first vertically extending member mounted on said base and adjacent one end of said trough, said member being provided at its upper end with means defining a U-shaped saddle, and other vertically extending members mounted on said base in spaced longitudinal relation to said first vertical member and to each other, said'other members being each provided at its upper end with an bundle at rest and having a downwardly inclined portion to guide the bundle for dropping between the opposed sides of said trough when an end of the bundle is lifted out of said saddle and the bundle is moved transversely towards said trough.

an end of said trough, afirst vertically extending member on said base and positioned adjacent said operating handle, said first vertical member being provided with means at its upper end to. define a U-shaped saddle, and other vertically extending members on said base in longitudinal spaced relation to said first member and to each other and each provided at its upper end with an arm having a portion defining a support for a bundle at rest and having a downwardly inclined portion to guide the bundle for dropping between the opposed sides of said trough when I an end of the bundle is lifted out of said saddle HARRY W. HILL.

and the bundle is moved transversely towards said trough. 

